Tag Archives: IRS Tax Tip

IRS resources help taxpayers determine if an offer in compromise is the right way to resolve tax debt

Individual taxpayers and business owners can use the IRS’s Offer in Compromise Booklet or the new how-to video series to learn how an offer in compromise works and decide if it could help them resolve their tax debt. Taxpayer’s can use pre-qualifier tool see if they are eligible for an offer in compromise.

An offer in compromise is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles a tax debt for less than the full amount owed. An offer in compromise is an option when a taxpayer can’t pay their full tax liability. It is also an option when paying the entire tax bill would cause the taxpayer a financial hardship. The goal is a compromise that suits the best interest of both the taxpayer and the agency.
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Farmers and ranchers affected by drought have additional time to replace livestock

Farmers and ranchers who were forced to sell livestock due to drought may get extra time to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales. Here are some facts about this to help farmers understand how the deferral works and if they are eligible.

  • The one-year extension gives eligible farmers and ranchers until the end of the tax year after the first drought-free year to replace the sold livestock.
  • The farmer or rancher must be in an applicable region. An applicable region is a county designated as eligible for federal assistance, as well as counties contiguous to that county.
  • The farmer’s county, parish, city or district included in the applicable region must be listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the National Drought Mitigation Center. All or part of 36 states and one U.S. territory are listed. The list of applicable regions is in Notice 2021-55 on IRS.gov.

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Common but costly errors employers should avoid when filing taxes or claiming credits

Employers filing employment tax returns and claiming an employer tax credit should read the instructions for Form 941 and carefully complete the form to avoid mistakes.

Using a reputable tax preparer including a certified public accountant, enrolled agent or other knowledgeable tax professional can also help avoid errors. Mistakes can result in a processing delay or a balance due notice, which could mean additional delays or require filing an amended return.

Here are some important things employers should remember when preparing tax returns or claiming credits.

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Filing season reminder: Military members and their families may qualify for special tax benefits

With the filing deadline around the corner, the IRS reminders members of the military that they may qualify for special tax benefits. For example, they don’t have to pay taxes on some types of income. Special rules may lower the tax they owe or allow them more time to file and pay their federal taxes.

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IRS Free File can help people who aren’t required to file find tax credits and get a refund

The IRS urges low- and moderate-income individuals and families, especially those who don’t normally file a tax return because they are not required to by law, to use IRS Free File. Filing a tax return is the only way for taxpayers to claim a refund or claim benefits like the recovery rebate credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.

Taxpayers who are not required to file should still consider doing so to get money they are due.

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IRS pushes start of 2021 tax season as online filing opens to Feb 12

The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will start on Friday, February 12, 2021, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns.

Because of the pandemic and stimulus payments, the Internal Revenue Service will not start accepting federal tax returns until February 12, 2021.

The February 12 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to do additional programming and testing of IRS systems following the December 27 tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact Payments and other benefits.

This programming work is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. If filing season were opened without the correct programming in place, then there could be a delay in issuing refunds to taxpayers. These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.

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IRS temporarily stops mailing notices to taxpayers with balances due

The IRS has suspended the mailing of three notices – the CP501, the CP503 and the CP504 – that go to taxpayers who have a balance due on their taxes. Although the IRS continues to make significant reductions in the backlog of unopened mail that developed while most IRS operations were closed due to COVID-19, this temporary adjustment to processing is intended to lessen any possible confusion that might be associated with delays in processing correspondence received from taxpayers.

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IRS provides tax relief for victims of California wildfires; Oct. 15 deadline, other dates extended to Dec. 15

Victims of the California wildfires that began Aug. 14 now have until Dec. 15, 2020 to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.

The IRS is offering this relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as qualifying for individual assistance. Currently this includes Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties in California, but taxpayers in localities added later to the disaster area will automatically receive the same filing and payment relief. The current list of eligible localities is always available on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.

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IRS reminds truckers of Aug. 31 highway use tax return deadline, e-file encouraged

In the latest release from IRS highlighting to choose electronic filing to report and pay the Federal Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290. Tax2290.com guarantees easy, fast and safe filing; economic, affordable and transparent pricing; quality, experienced and live expert support to help you through with your 2290 efile. Tax2290.com is the most experienced and market leader since 2007.

The Internal Revenue Service reminded owners of most heavy highway vehicles of their responsibility to timely file Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return. The highway use tax applies to highway motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. This generally includes large trucks, truck tractors and buses. The tax is based on the weight of the vehicle. A variety of special rules apply. These special rules are explained in the instructions to Form 2290.

The deadline to file Form 2290 and pay the tax is Aug. 31, 2020, for vehicles used on the road during July.

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Farmers, fishermen face March 1 tax deadline; IRS encourages convenience of IRS Direct Pay

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WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service reminds farmers and fishermen who chose to forgo making quarterly estimated tax payments that they must file their 2018 Form 1040 along with a payment for all taxes owed by Friday, March 1, 2019.

This special rule normally applies to taxpayers whose farming or fishing income was at least two-thirds of their total gross income in either the current or the preceding tax year. Farmers and fishermen choosing not to file by March 1 should have made an estimated tax payment by Jan. 15 to avoid a penalty.

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